What Classical Music Are You Listening To Tonight?

[bart]

Beethoven - Symphonies 7-8-9



Watching and listening to Blu-ray 3 of this fantastic box.
Sometimes my wife and I like to also see the musicians.
Of course a live concert is the best for that, but a set like this one is a very nice second best!
Outstanding singing performances also in the ninth.

[bart]

Continuing with another good video:

C.P.E. & J.S. Bach - Ascension Oratorios
Ex Tempore - La Petite Bande, conducted by Sigiswald Kuijken



'Just' a DVD, but sound (DTS) and even image are really decent and the performances of these precious works are exceptionally good.
An extra advantage: subtitles!

[ehoove]

Tonight:
A bit of Schubert = String Qintet C Major D956
Auryn Quartet w/ Christian Poitera, Violoncello
Engaging and vibrant, aggressively but well performed.
One of Tacet's all tube vinyl offerings that sounds the part - rich and robust!
Tacet LC 07033 180 g vinyl

Regards,
Jim

[AudioNut]

Originally Posted by ehoove

Tonight:
A bit of Schubert = String Qintet C Major D956
Auryn Quartet w/ Christian Poitera, Violoncello
Engaging and vibrant, aggressively but well performed.
One of Tacet's all tube vinyl offerings that sounds the part - rich and robust!
Tacet LC 07033 180 g vinyl

Regards,
Jim

Jim, I am glad that you are again speaking out about the music you listen to. I've long admired your insight and your ability to express what you feel about classical music - Please continue.

Julian

[bart]

Originally Posted by AudioNut

Jim, I am glad that you are again speaking out about the music you listen to. I've long admired your insight and your ability to express what you feel about classical music - Please continue.

Julian

+1!
Wholeheartedly.

[cma29]

Good morning to all my friends.

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 'Pathétique'
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Valery Gergiev



Lots of passion here and excellent playing from the VPO. The Allegro molto vivace is taken a brisk pace and the Finale is indeed tragic, but I miss Pletnev's way with this symphony captured in a 1991 Virgin recording with the newly created Russian National Orchestra. That is, in my view, the most intense reading of the brooding Pathétique.

[cma29]

More Russian music...

Shostakovich:
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C minor for piano, trumpet & strings, Op. 35
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F major, Op. 102
Shchedrin: Piano Concerto No. 2
Marc-André Hamelin (piano), Mark O’Keefe (trumpet)
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton



For Shostakovich this music sounds surprisingly cheerful and playful. The first concerto even has a trumpet thrown in for good measure (where is the Soviet angst?). The Shchedrin concerto sounds very jazzy with a plucking bass and drums. I never heard music by this composer and this is good stuff.

The Hyperion recording is natural and realistic. I recommend this disc to all my friends here.

[cma29]

Originally Posted by cma29

Continuing the theme from last night...

Schmelzer: Baroque World Theatre / Barockes Welttheater
Freiburger BarockConsort



This is a collection of 17th century sonatas and dance suites that influenced the Hapsburg court and later composer such as Biber.

Here is an interesting review I saw:

“Never heard of Johann Heinrich Schmelzer? Join a club of billions. But I defy you not to be enchanted by this recording...Beguiling duets for violins meld into scampering dances or delicate guitar pieces. Percussion embellishes the syncopations and all is played with grace, wit and energy. Such music must have made the Thirty Years War seem that bit shorter.”

The recorded sound is natural and satisfying.

I'm playing this again today. The more I hear it, the more I like it and the better it sounds.

[bart]

While preparing a seminar, listening to some CDs from this box:



My third CD so far, and I love them.
Divertimenti for 2 clarinets & bassoon for example, lovely music that is well recorded and played.
What a bargain this box!

[AndyPandy]

Morning Gents

Have been busy at work, so little time to post, but thinking of you all and will enjoy reading what you have been listening to.